Suicide note and human remains found at NY gunman William Spengler’s house

A handwritten note and human remains have been discovered at the home of William Spengler – the 62-year-old man suspected of luring two US firefighters into a ‘trap’ before shooting them dead in upstate New York on Christmas Eve.

The remains are thought to be those of Spengler’s sister Cheryl, 67, who he shared his house with in Webster, NY, before apparently setting fire to it deliberately on Monday.

‘Best at killing’: William Spengler (Picture: EPA)

That incident prompted fire crews to attend the burning building – but they were ambushed by Spengler, who opened fire on the emergency service workers. Two were killed – Michael Chiapperini, 43, and 19-year-old Tomasz Kaczowka.

Police Chief Gerald Pickering confirmed Spengler had left a note and, while he refused to divulge the full contents, he read out a single line in which Spengler – a career criminal who was jailed for 17 years for the murder of his own grandmother – appeared to boast about his misdemeanours.

‘I still have to get ready to see how much of the neighbourhood I can burn down and do what I like doing best – killing people,’ Spengler wrote.

The body found at the house on the shores of Lake Ontario has not yet been identified but police believe it to be that of his sister, Cheryl.

The pair are said to have had a strained relationship, to the extent that they barely spoke and lived on opposite sides of the house.